Brick-kiln



4 Sheets-Sheet 1. W. ALS'IP.

BRICK KILN.

(No Model.)

No. 340,186. Patented Apr. 20, 1886;

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BRICK KILN.

Patented Apr. 20, 1886.

(No Model.)

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No. 340186. PZttGIItQ-(IAPLZO, 1-886.

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- BRICK KILN.. v

No. 340,186. Patented AprmZO, 1886.

- J jf N. PEIERS, PMQo -Bhognphln Wahington. D. C.

Ururren ST TES WILLIAM ALsIP, or

ATE T tries.

BRICK- KlLN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 340,186, dated April 20, 1886.

Application filed January 18,1886.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM ALSIP, a citizen of the United States, residing at Momence,

in the county of Kankakee, State of Illinois,

have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Brick-Kilns, ofwhich the fol-,

lowing is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to brick kilns in IQ which the products of combustion enter either at the top or bottom of the kiln, and inwhich alternate up and down draftsare secured from the same fires.

The object of the invention is to provide a r 5 brick-kiln of this character which will afford an equal distribution of the heat from the same fires in bot-h the up and the down drafts.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure I is aside elevation of this improved brick-kiln.

Fig. II is altransverse section thereof on line ii ii of Fig. 1V. Fig. III is a longitudinal section on line iii iii of Fig. II. Fig. IV is a horizontal section on line iv iv of Fig. III.

Corresponding parts in the different figures 2 5 are designatedby the same numbers.

The kiln 1, which is preferably square or rectangular in shape, is strengthened by trussed braces 2, which are connected over the arched top 3 thereof by means of tie-rods o 4. Furnaces 5are arranged, preferably, along opposite sides of the kiln, each furnace comprising a fire-box, 6, and an ash-pit, 7. The kiln is provided between the furnaces with doorways 8,'and immediately above the fur- 3 5 naces with damper-openings 9, and intermediately between said damperopenings 9 with similar damper-openings, 10. The furnaces5 are elevated relatively to the kiln, and fireholes 11 in the walls of the latter establish 0 communication between the fire-boxes 6 and a series of broad vertical fines, 12, arranged along the side of the kiln opposite the furnaces, said fire-holes being at points about midway between the upper and lower ends of said 5 fiues, which latter extend upward and open at their upper ends into the kiln near the roof thereof, and also extend downward below the floor of thekiln. These flues 12 are provided above the fire-holes 11 with dampers 13, and below said fire-holes with dampers 14, whereby they may be changed from ascending to de- Serial ND. 128,049] (No model.)

below the floor on opposite sides of the kiln near the side walls thereof, and communicate with the vertical fines 12 at the lower ends of the latter through openings 16. These longitudinal distributingfiues also communicate by openings along their tops with a series of transverse distributing fines or channels, 18, immediately beneath the floor of the kiln. The fioor 19 of the kiln is closed or solid for a distance of about three feet (more or less) from each of the side walls, and the central portion thereof is provided with openings or holes 20, to establish communication between the interior of the kiln and the transverse fiues 18. A series of smaller vertical fines, 7c 21, are arranged along the sides of the kiln between the flues 12, opening at their upper ends near the top of the kiln. These fines 21 serve solely as descending exit-fines, and extend to points below the lower end of thefiues 12, and communicate at their lower ends through openings 22 with horizontal exit-fiues 23, which extend. longitudinally of the kiln beneath the longitudinal distrilmting-fiues 17. The fines 21 are provided with dampers 26, whereby they may be closed. The longitudinal side exit-fines, 23, communicate with the smoke-stack. A horizontal central exit-fine, 24, extends longitudinally of the kiln beneath the floor thereof and below the transverse lines 18. This flue also connects with the smoke-stack, and is provided along its top with openings into the transverse fines or channels 18, and at its outerend with a damper, 25, whereby it may be closed.

The operation is as follows: The bricks to be burned are stacked in the kiln in any approved manner and the fire startedin the furnaces along the sides thereof. If it be desired to first subject the bricks to a downdraft of 5 the heat and fire-gases, the lower dampers, 14, of the vertical fines 12 are closed, the upper dampers, '13, .of said flues opened, and the damper 25 of the central exit-fine, 24, opened.

The direction of the heat will then be, as in- [00 dicated by the full-line arrows, through the fire-holes 11 into the vertical flues 12, and upward through the upper portion of said fluesinto the interior of the kiln near the top there of. thekiln toward the center thereof between the bricks stacked therein, and pass through the openings 20 in the floor into the transverse channels 18, thence into the central exitfiue, 24, whereby they are conducted to the smoke-stack. A small portion of the heat and firegases will descend a short distance in the tlues 12 and pass through the perforations 15 into the kiln, coming in contact with the bricks stacked near the sides of the kiln on the solid portions of the floor. After the bricks have been subjected for a given period of time to the downdraft the current is reversed, and they are subjected for another period of time to an upward current. This reversal of the current is effected by closing the upperdampers, 13, in the flues 12, opening the lower dampers, 14, in said flnes, opening the dampers 26 in the vertical flues 21, and closing the damper 25 in the central exit-flue, 24. The course of the heat and products of combustion from the furnaces to the smokestack, as indicated by the dotted arrows, will then be as follows: from the furnaces through the fire-holes ll into the vertical lines 12,downward through the lower parts of said flues to the lower ends thereof, thence through the openings 16 into the longitudinal distributing-fines l7, thence through the tops of said flues into the transverse distributing-fines l8, thence along said flues toward the center ofthe kiln, thence through the openings 20 in the floor' into the kiln, thence upward through the kiln between the bricks stacked therein to near the top thereof, thence downward through the descending flues 21 to the lower ends of said fines, thence through the openings 22 into the horizontal side exittlues, 23, whereby they are conducted to the smokestack. A portion of the gases will pass into the kiln during the updraft current through the perforations 15, so as to burn the bricks on the solid portion of the floor in the same manner as during the downward current of the main portion of the gases. The bricks may first be subjected to the upward current, and subsequently to the downward current, if preferred. The elevation of the fireboxcs and the location of the fire-holes at the points about midway between the upper and lower ends of the vertical flues 12 secure an even distribution of the heat, whether a down-and-up or an up-and-down draft be employed; and the construction of the floor with solid side portions serves to direct the heat toward the center of the stack, and, together with the separate supply-openings 15 for the bricks on the solid parts thereof, tend further to equalize the temperature of the kiln and secure an even burning of the bricks throughout the entire stack.

Aseries of separate kilns may be located in one structure and divided by transverse partition-walls.

This improved kiln is of especial advan- The heat and gases then descend within' tage in theiburning of bricks formed of dry clay, or clay which is somewhat refractory in character.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, substantially as set forth, with a brick'kiln, of a vertical line in low the opening communicating with the fire-' box. I

2. The combination, substantially as set forth, with a brick kiln, of a vertical flue opening into the kiln near the top thereof and extending below the bottom thereof, a furnace having an elevated firebox communicating with said flue about midway between its upper and lower ends, said vertical flue being provided with dampers above and below the opening communicating with the fire-box, and flues connecting the lower end of said vertical flue with the bottom of the kiln through openings in the floor thereof.

3. The combination, substantially as set forth, with a brick-kiln, of a vertical flue opening at its upper end into the kiln near the top thereof and extending below the bottom thereof, an elevated lire-box in communication with said tlue at a pointabout midway between the upper and lower ends thereof, said vertical flue being provided with dampers above and below said points of communication, a horizontal flue extending longitudinally of the kiln and in communication with the lower end of the vertical line, and transverse distributing-fines connected with said ICC horizontal flue and in communication with the interior of the kiln through the openingsin the floor thereof.

4. The combination, substantially as set forth, with a brick-kiln, of a vertical flue opening at its upper end into the kiln near the top thereof and extending below the bottom thereof, an elevated lire-box in communication with said flue at a point about midway between the upper and lower ends thereof, said vertical flue being provided with dampers above and below said points of communication, a horizontal flue extending longitudinally of the kiln and in communication with the lower end of the vertical flue, transverse distributingfines connected with said horizontal flue and in communication with the insides near the floor for the admission of heat to the bricks on the solid portions of the floor, substantially as described.

6. The combination, substantially as set forth, of a brick-kiln having a floor which is perforated in its central portion and solid at its side portions, aseries of transverse fines or channels beneath said floor, and longitudinal distributing-fines at the sides of the kiln below said transverse flues,provided with top 0penings into said transverse fines, and llues con necting said longitudinal distributing flues with the fire-boxes.

7. The combination, substantially as set forth, with a brick-kiln having a perforated floor, of the elevated fire-boxes 6, the vertical flues 12, provided with dampers 13 and 14, withfire-holes11,and with openings 16 at their lower ends, the longitudinal distributing-flucs or fire-chambers 17, the transverse distributing-fineslS immediately below the perforated floor, the descending fines 21, provided with dampers, the horizontal exit-fines 23, provided with dampers, and the horizontal central exitflue, 24, provided with a damper.

8. The combination, substantially as set forth, of a kiln, the elevated fire-boxes 6 at the sides thereof, the vertical fines 12, provided with fire-holes 11 about mid way between their upper and lower ends,with the dampers 13 and 14 above and below said fire-holes, and with the perforations 15 between said fire-holes and the lower dampers, 14, the partially-solid and partiallyperforated floor 19, the transverse lines 18 beneath said floor and in communication with said flnes 12, and the central exitflue, 24, in com mu nication with said transverse flues.

WM. ALSIP.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM B. WILSON, CHARLES D. HALL. 

